Birch Tree Names Pictures and Types of Betula Species Birch Tree Names, Types of Betula Species Picture of a Birch Tree Betula pendula, Silver Birch tree. Photo by Jordgubbe, Picture use (cc2) The genus Betula, commonly known as Birch is made up of 73 taxa. Birch species are normally small to medium-size trees or shrubs, mostly of temperate climates and boreal zones of the northern hemisphere. Birch trees prefer to occupy habitats in cool, moist areas, including peatlands (moors, peatbogs), river banks, and lakeshores. Birch can be found in larger numbers in cool damp woods and forests were the ground does not dry out for most of the year. Birch tree leaves may be toothed or pointed. Birch branches and bark have many uses. Birch wood is often used for fire wood because it burns well without popping, even when frozen. Birch bark can be easily used to start fires and the bark can also be peeled into thin sheets to make a paper like kindling that can be ignited even with sparks.

Birch wood of species that grow to a large size such as Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch) have many uses. The wood is used for Birch wood flooring, Birch cabinetry, Birch wood paneling, and some furniture. Plywood is also made with Birch wood because of the properties of the Birch wood lend themselves for plywood production. Facts about the Betula Genus of Trees Genus Latin Scientific Name = Betula. Genus Latin Name Pronunciation: BET-yoo-luh Genus Latin Name Meaning: Latin name for Birch. birch | tree | Britannica.com Birch wood Birch, any of about 40 species of short-lived ornamental and timber trees and shrubs constituting the genus Betula (family Betulaceae), distributed throughout cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Ivory birch (family Euphorbiaceae) and West Indian birch (family Burseraceae) are not true birches. The name bog birch is applied to a species of buckthorn, as well as to B. glandulosa. European white birch (Betula pendula). G.

Lord/Shostal Associates A birch has smooth, resinous, varicoloured or white bark , marked by horizontal pores (lenticels), which usually peels horizontally in thin sheets, especially on young trees. On older trunks the thick, deeply furrowed bark breaks into irregular plates. Short, slender branches rise to a narrow pyramidal crown on a young tree; they become horizontal, often pendulous, on an older tree . The egg-shaped or triangular, usually pointed leaves have toothed margins; they are alternately arranged on the branchlets. They are usually bright green, turning yellow in autumn. The drooping male catkins flower before the leaves emerge; smaller, upright female catkins on the same tree develop in conelike clusters, which disintegrate at maturity, releasing tiny, one-seeded, winged nutlets. Bark of the paper birch (Betula papyrifera). E.H. Ketchledge Sweet birch (Betula lenta).

Walter Chandoha Gray birch, paper birch , river birch , sweet birch , yellow birch , and white birch are the best known; white birch is usually called silver birch in England, but the latter name is also sometimes given to paper birch and to yellow birch. The Japanese monarch birch (B. maximowicziana) is a valuable timber tree of Japan, especially in the plywood industry. Usually 30 metres (100 feet) high, with flaking gray or orange-gray bark, it has heart-shaped leaves about 15 centimetres (6 inches) long and is a hardy ornamental. The similar Japanese cherry birch (B. grossa) also produces useful timber. Paper birch (Betula papyrifera), with white trunks, and sugar maple … Kim Heacox—Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images Drawing of a white birch. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Characteristics of birch CHARACTERISTICS OF BIRCH Characteristics of the genus "Betula" (Birch) The birches are trees or shrubs of the genus Betula in the order of fagales which includes other trees such as oak, beech, alder, etc. The birches grow in the mountains or in northern temperate zones. Birch (Betula pendula) is forms large forests in Scandinavian taiga (in latitudes between 50 and 70 degrees north latitude). The word comes from the Celtic Birch bitumen, which was the name that people gave to the birch. Some researchers say that the name could come from Sanskrit bhurga , meaning "tree to write" by the fact that the bark of this tree was used as a paper before inventing this. The birch tree presents medium trees or specimens of a bushy form. The latter are more common in high places or in very cold areas. The leaves are simple, alternate and petiolated; they are about 3 to 8 cm and are generally "dentata" (toothed), although there are species with lobes. Many of them are diamond-shaped and often pointed.

The branches and trunks usually have a more or less clear gray bark, often split into layers as the tree gets older and the lower crust reveals a different color depending on the species. The color of the bark is one of the features that differentiate the various species of birch. Most of them loose this "peel" because underneath this surface crust appears another, the final one. It is characteristic to notice the presence of pores called lenticels on the surface of the birch bark, which allow the upper crust to breathe and make way for the gases to the lower crust. The bark is rich in oils and components that make it very resistant to the environmental aggressions. This is one of the reasons why this tree can withstand the cold and wind of the northern latitudes. The birches are trees with separate male and female flowers on the same tree (monoecious trees.) The flowers develop in a plant formations called catkins, which may be erect or hanging, and are formed by grouping a series of overlapping bracts. The male flowers have 2 to 4 filaments and are grouped in trios in the axils of each bract. The male catkins hang at maturity.

The female flowers appear in groups of 2 to 3 in the axils of the bracts. Each has an ovary with one egg and two styles. The female catkins are pendent. The fruits have the shape of winged achenes, which encourages them to seed dispersal by wind. Photo of tools (axes, saws, plows, etc.) made of birch wood as shown at de Vos Museum (Norway) Uses of birches The birches are trees that have many uses in certain areas of our planet. The birch bark, for its oil, which is practically imperishable is used as insulating material. Many houses in Scandinavia use this crust to build waterproof roofs. To do this, they place a layer of bark under a roof, like a box that has been filled with peat and on which grass is planted. The birch bark layer acts as an insulator in the peat that is always wet or damp as a result of the constant rain and below the wooden roof protects. This ability to resist humidity and harsh conditions has also been used in the manufacture of utensils and tools, clogs, baskets, wooden boxes, plates, etc.

Canadian and American Indians took advantage of birch bark to line their canoes. This inner layer waterproofing means of transport and ensure that no sink. The branches and young leaves are dried and used as winter fodder for animals. Birch is Finland's national tree. It is traditional to show a girl reclining on a birch as a Finnish emblem. It is also usual in this country to offer the bride a ring of birch bark before giving the final ring. The reason for this devotion to this tree lies in the fact that this tree is one of the most common in this country and probably the one that has been used throughout history. Even today it is considered that one in ten households in this country used its wood for heating during the winter. In the timber industry, birch has played an important role in the manufacture of plywood. Currently, its greatest importance lies in the manufacture of paper pulp. With birch bark, betulin-rich and betulinic acid, is gets as oils that are used in the automotive, paints and other industrial applications. The pharmaceutical industry uses birch tar to produce medicines in the form of ointments or liniments with which treat rheumatic pain or pain from bruises. Birch is very rich in sugars.

Xylose is extracted from birch wood and it is used in the production of xylitol as a sweetener for in some candy and chewing gum, since it does not produce tooth decay. Its use is widespread in northern Europe, especially in Finland. It is also included in the composition of manufactured foods for diabetics because it does not require insulin for the body to metabolize. The inner bark of the birch is edible. The inhabitants of northern countries have consumed it in times of famine, when there was no other more appetizing food. It can be eaten cooked or dried, and ground. For its quantity of starch it has been used as flour mixed with cereal flour such as wheat, barley or oats. Birch sap, very rich in sugars, is used fresh with therapeutic properties as one of the best resources as a tonic, to treat kidney stones and to dissolve sand in the kidney (For more information on this subject in the Under "Birch sap" in the listing above) The birch leaves are used primarily in natural medicine for the preparation of herbal teas. They contain a higher percentage of saponins that the crust and are rich in tannins, resins and bitter principles.

This makes them an essential ally in the treatment of uric acid, edema, cholestero l and hair loss (See more information about this topic in the section "Medicinal properties of birch" in the listing above). Birch wood is the primary fuel for a lot of northern people. In the picture you can see how the wood is cut and prepared for burning in homes and withstand the harsh winter. For its richness in oil it is a type of wood that lights well and provides plenty of heat. Photo of dwarf birch (Betula nana) crawling on a stone in a bog in Finland. Himalayan Birch (Betula utilis) is a tree from the Himalayas that heights more than 18 meters. It has pale gray trunks that are peeled off easily and leaves up to 8 cm with a beam of dark green and a much clearer back part. Japanese white birch (Betula plathyphylla) is a species that can be found in eastern and western Siberia and northern China, Korea and Japan. It has a white crust without spots. Chinese red birch (Betula albosinensis) birch species native to the west of China, which can reach 12 meters high.

Highlights of the lower crust color that appears to peel the outer layer of gray color and offers a beautiful copper colored. Its leaves are oblong, have very prominent teeth and may reach 8 cm in length. Alaska birch (Betula neoalaskana): birch that grows in the interior areas of Alaska and Canada. Reaches 12 m in height. Stems with a brownish-white bark. Main American species Black birch or sweet birch (Betula lenta) American birch species to 23 m in height. Trunk bark of bright color, reddish brown to black. Gray birch (Betula populifolia) North American species that grows in the colder areas where other species of birch cannot grow. Leaves of up to 8 cm long, very acuminate and stems of a pale gray color. Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) Birch of the highest port in the eastern United States and Canada. It can reach 30 meters high. The bark is of a creamy yellow color, even gold and breaks easily into strips. It is planted to be used commercially, because of the value of its timber and the high proportion of oil. Very long leaves with very jagged edges.

Birch Trees | Betula Trees | Small Birch Trees | Ornamental Trees Ltd Department Info Birch trees or Betula trees, to use their Latin name are a hardwood deciduous (broadleaf) genus comprising approximately 60 species and numerous cultivars. Closely related to Beech and Oak. Birch is often referred to as The Watchful Tree due to the eye-like impressions on the bark. The well-known peeling bark of Birch trees is one of the reasons they are some of our most popular ornamental trees. The horizontal lines on the trunks of Betula trees are called 'lenticels' and are almost like a unique Morse code on each tree. The bark also produces a resin which make Birch trees resistant to decay. It takes time to develop the pale colour on Birch trees - often they start off when young quite brownish but as they mature they become bright cool white or pearlescent pale coral pink, depending on the variety. Mature Birch trees shed their bark in very thin layers like scraps of paper. They produce both male and female flowers, in the form of catkins as the tree's new leaves appear in the Spring.

Amongst the most hardy of trees available, birches are pretty easy to grow in any reasonably fertile, well drained soil (although Betula nigra is excellent in damp but not waterlogged soil). They need sun or dappled shade and ideally some protection from cold winds and it's sensible not to plant in a frost pocket. Some say that planting in full sun helps keep the bark colours bright (by producing botulin which gives the trees their chalky white bloom). You can gently wash down (cool water) the bark to remove accumulated grime Betula albosinsensis varieties are slower growing so they tend to be most suitable for smaller gardens/situations where a smaller tree is required. Whilst this genus is mostly known for it's white bark, there are newer varieties with blush, ginger, shades of red and even purple. Cultural uses of Birch Trees: In Celtic folklore they represent growth, renewal and initiation The Czech word for the month of March is Brezen (Birch) as Birch trees flower during March under the local conditions It is the national tree of both Finland and Russia Common uses of Birch Trees: Extracts from birch trees are used in flavourings and cosmetics, e.g.

shampoos and soaps Fragrant Birch twigs are used in saunas and spas to help relax the muscles The twigs of Betula trees, when bound into a bundle were historically used for 'birching' which is a form of punishment North American Indians regarded birch wood very highly and used it for making lightweight canoes Birch makes great firewood, it does not pop when burning and will ignite even when wet due to the oils in the bark Birch tree sap is used to make a traditional drink in parts of China, Russia and Northern Europe. It can also be made into a syrup which goes well with waffles and pancakes The wood contains an oil which makes it practically imperishable, and so it is commonly used to build waterproof roofs on houses in Scandinavia Not only do Betula trees have attractive exfoliating bark, they also boast many other features, such as: varying bark colour (cream, red, brown, gold and white); a dense canopy of foliage; screening and windbreak properties; and the ability to thrive in many situations. Birch Trees are good pioneer species and are popularly planted in the most difficult sites. Small birch trees are ideal for planting in small gardens or when space is at a premium.

Ornamental Trees have a huge choice of Birch Trees, many of which with more unusual characteristics. Why not plant a multi-stem variety for a great garden feature? Make sure to check out our range of Planting Essentials. We highly recommend planting with root grow and protecting your tree with a cane and rabbit guard kit. Sort by Betula species - definition of Betula species by The Free Dictionary Betula species - definition of Betula species by The Free Dictionary n. 1. a. Any of various deciduous trees or shrubs of the genus Betula, native to the Northern Hemisphere and having unisexual flowers in catkins, alternate, simple, toothed leaves, and bark that often peels in thin papery layers. b. The hard, close-grained wood of any of these trees, used especially in furniture, interior finishes, and plywood. 2. A rod from a birch, used to administer a whipping. tr.v. birched, birch·ing, birch·es To whip with or as if with a birch. [Middle English, from Old English birce; see bherəg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] birch (bɜːtʃ) n 1.

(Plants) any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula, having thin peeling bark. See also silver birch 2. (Plants) the hard close-grained wood of any of these trees 3. the birch a bundle of birch twigs or a birch rod used, esp formerly, for flogging offenders adj 4. (Plants) of, relating to, or belonging to the birch 5. (Plants) consisting or made of birch vb (tr) to flog with a birch [Old English bierce; related to Old High German birihha, Sanskrit bhūrja] ˈbirchen adj (bɜrtʃ) n. 1. any tree or shrub of the genus Betula, comprising species with a smooth, laminated outer bark and close-grained wood. 2. the wood itself. 3. a birch rod, or a bundle of birch twigs, used for whipping. adj. 4. Also, birch′en. of or made of birch. v.t. 5. to beat with or as if with a birch.

[before 900; Middle English birche, Old English birce] birch I will have been birching you will have been birching he/she/it will have been birching we will have been birching you will have been birching they will have been birching Past Perfect Continuous Noun 1. birch - hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood birch tree , birch - any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula having a thin peeling bark wood - the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees 2.

birch tree Betula , genus Betula - a genus of trees of the family Betulaceae (such as birches) birch - hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood Betula pendula , common birch , European white birch , silver birch - European birch with silvery white peeling bark and markedly drooping branches Betula pubescens , downy birch , white birch - European birch with dull white to pale brown bark and somewhat drooping hairy branches Betula nigra , red birch , river birch , black birch - birch of swamps and river bottoms throughout the eastern United States having reddish-brown bark Betula lenta , black birch , cherry birch , sweet birch - common birch of the eastern United States having spicy brown bark yielding a volatile oil and hard dark wood used for furniture American dwarf birch , Betula glandulosa , Newfoundland dwarf birch - small shrub of colder parts of North America and Greenland tree - a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms 3.

birch - a switch consisting of a twig or a bundle of twigs from a birch tree; used to hit people as punishment; "my father never spared the birch" switch - a flexible implement used as an instrument of punishment Verb 1. birch - whip with a birch twig flog , lash , lather , trounce , welt , whip , slash , strap - beat severely with a whip or rod; "The teacher often flogged the students"; "The children were severely trounced" Adj. woody - made of or containing or resembling wood; "woody plants"; "perennial herbs with woody stems"; "a woody taste" Translations خَشَبُ شَجَر البَتولاشَجَر البتولا شَجَرَةُ البَتُولا бреза huş ağacı huş ağacı kerestesihuş береза A. N (= tree, wood) → abedul m; (for whipping) → vara f B. VT (= punish) → castigar con la vara C.

CPD birch tree N → abedul m birch [bɜːtʃ] n (tree, wood) → betulla ; (for whipping) → frusta (di betulla) birch (bəːtʃ) noun 1. (also birch tree) a kind of small tree with pointed leaves valued for its wood. That tree is a birch; (also adjective) birch leaves. berk شَجَر البتولا бреза bétula bříza; březový die Birke; Birken...

birk σημύδα abedul kask درخت غان koivu bouleau לבנה सनोबर का पेड़ breza nyír(fa) nama pohon birkitré, björk betulla かばの木 자작나무 beržas bērzs; bērza- pokok birch berk bjørk brzoza bétula (de) mesteacăn береза ; березовыи breza; brezový breza; brezov breza björk ต้นเบิร์ช huş ağacı 樺樹 береза; березовий نو کیلے پتوں والا ایک درخت cây bulô 桦树 2. its wood. a desk made of birch; (also adjective) a birch desk.

berkehout خَشَبُ شَجَر البَتولا дървен материал от бреза bétula bříza; březový das Birkenholz birketræ; birketræs- ξύλο σημύδας abedul kasepuit چوب غان koivupuu bouleau עֵץ לִבְנָה सनोबर के पेड़ की लकड़ी brezovina nyírfa kayu birch birkiviður betulla かば材 자작나무 재목 beržo mediena; beržinis bērzs; bērza- kayu birch berkenhout bjørk brzezina د غان لرګۍ bétula (lemn de) mesteacăn береза ; березовыи breza; brezový brezovina; brezov brezovina björk ไม้ของต้นเบิร์ช huş ağacı kerestesi 樺木

 береза اس درخت کی لکڑی gỗ bulô 桦木 birch Silver birch - Beith gheal - (Betula pendula) | Tree A-Z | O'Brien Horticulture - Tree Care, Tree Surgery & Landscaping Home >> Tree A-Z >> A-E >> Birch Silver birch - Beith gheal - (Betula pendula) There are two types of birch in Ireland, downy and silver.

Downy birch is tolerant of wet sites, but silver birch needs good drainage. Silver birch belongs to the genus Betula and is a member of the birch family (Betulaceae). Silver birch (Betula pendula) is a deciduous tree growing up to 30m and flowering April to May. Lifespan: Rarely lives beyond 100 years. Characteristics Bark is white and papery when young; flaking to reveal dark fissures with age. Twigs are hairless and warted with resin glands. Branches have a drooping ‘pendulus’ appearance. Leaves are alternate, pointed, triangular, hairless and doubly-toothed. Silver birch is monoecious: both male and female flowers are found on the same tree. Both flowers are arranged as a catkin (‘little cat’), as they resemble a kitten’s tail. Male flowers are long, yellow-brown catkins which hang in groups of two to four at the tips of shoots. Female catkins are smaller, short, green and erect. After wind pollination they become brown and thicken. Seeds are tiny winged nutlets produced in large numbers and wind dispersed.

Distribution Native throughout Europe and in the UK where it is often found in dry woodlands, downs and heaths of the south and east at low altitudes. The species is able to tolerate a wide range of temperatures and grows as far south as Spain and as far north as Lapland. Silver birch has been widely planted as an ornamental or garden tree. It frequently hybridises with our other native birch, the downy birch (Betula pubescens), and their ranges also overlap. Both species are very similar, have similar human uses and wildlife value. They are often cited in woodland terms as though they were one species. For example, birch woodland (which may be made up of silver and/or downy birch) accounts for 16% of broadleaf woodland in the UK and birch is one of the most common broadleaf trees in the UK in either form; second only to oak. Human value Silver birch timber is whitish to pale brown with no distinct heartwood. It is straight-grained with a fine texture. It has similar strength properties to oak but is not as durable. The timber works fairly easily and is good for turnery.

Silver birch wood is of little commercial value in Britain because the trees do not reach large sizes. In other parts of Europe the trees grow much larger. Modern uses include furniture, veneers, plywood and pulp; the wood also makes good firewood and the twigs are still used to make hurdles and sweeping brooms or ‘besoms’. Silver birch can be planted to improve soil quality; the roots grow very deep underground and draw up nutrients into the leaves and branches. When the leaves fall, any unused nutrients are made available to the rest of the forest through recycling. Birch is also valuable as a nursing tree to protect oak, beech or frost-tender conifers. This species may be increasingly vulnerable to drought with climate change. Silver birch is a slender, graceful tree; nicknamed ‘the lady of the woods’. Wildlife value Silver birch is a very important wildlife tree and is valued as a resource for conservation, habitat and landscape purposes. Upland birch woods are a priority habitat under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Birch woods (which may be made up of silver and/or downy birch) have a light, open canopy and a characteristic plant community of grasses, wood anemone, bluebells, wood sorrel and violets. Silver birch leaves attract aphids which in turn provide food for many ladybird species and blue, great and long-tailed tits. The leaves are also food for the angle-shades moth, the buff tip, the pebble hook-tip, and the large and little emerald moths. Threatened moths which like birches include the argent and sable, the cousin German, the Kentish glory and silvery arches. Silver birch supports well over 300 insect species; a fact that makes these trees a favoured foraging place for woodpeckers which often make nesting holes in the trunk. Birch seeds also provide winter food for siskins, greenfinches and redpolls.

Birch woodland is rich in fungi; the tree forms symbiotic associations with specific species such as the fly agaric, woolley milk cap, birch milk cap, birch brittlegill, birch knight, chanterelle and the birch polypore (razor strop). Management Silver birch is a light-loving pioneer species which readily colonises open ground and grows fast when young. A very hardy tree, it is frost resistant and wind firm, able to grow at high elevations on a wide range of soils, from lighter acid soils, gravels and shallow peats to clay and tolerates poor to medium soil fertility. It is less common on calcareous soils. The absence of birch from a site is said to indicate a deficiency of phosphate in the soil. Seeds ripen July to August and naturally disperse straight away, so need to be collected during this time. Seeds require pre-treatment to simulate cold conditions before planting March to April. Silver birch is susceptible to a rust pathogen Melamsporidium betulinum which can affect growth and health.

Dieback can occur in association with two canker fungi – Discula betulina and Marssonina betulae – and birch can also be affected by the honey fungus, Armillaria. The parasitic witches’ broom fungus (Taphrina betulina) can cause abnormally dense growths of small twigs on branches. Back to top Downy birch - Beith chlúmhach - Betula pubescens There are two types of birch in Ireland, downy and silver. The most usual is the downy birch. Birch woods occur widely, especially on marginal soils, lake edges, such as Lough Ennell Co. Westmeath, fens and on dried out bogs such as Ardkill Bog, Co. Kildare. Birch is typically associated with the Sperrins. Downy birch (Betula pubescens) is also a member of the Betula genus. It is a deciduous tree growing up to 30m and flowering April to May. Downy birch has only subtly different characteristics from silver birch and the two species frequently hybridise. Their human use, timber type and wildlife value is almost identical.

The bark of the downy birch is more brown in colour, peeling and papery with more conspicuous horizontal grooves. Twigs are downy but not warted. Leaves are oval-triangular, more rounded at the base, simply toothed and downy on the underside. It is more upright in growth than silver birch. Downy birch is the UK’s other native birch; more frequently found on badly drained sites or damper soils than silver birch. It can tolerate waterlogged or peaty conditions in the north and west at higher elevations. Seeds ripen in August to September and naturally disperse straight away, so need to be collected during this time. Seeds require pre-treatment to simulate cold conditions before planting March to April. Illustrations © Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

Photographs © Forestry Commission Betula nigra - Plant Finder Plant Finder Tried and Trouble-free Recommended by 4 Professionals Species Native to Missouri Native Range: Eastern United States Zone: 4 to 9 Height: 40.00 to 70.00 feet Spread: 40.00 to 60.00 feet Bloom Time: April to May Bloom Description: Brown (male) green (female) Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium to wet Suggested Use: Shade Tree, Rain Garden Flower: Showy Garden locations Culture Easily grown average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. River birch is perhaps the most culturally adaptable and heat tolerant of the birches. Prefers moist, acidic, fertile soils including semi-aquatic conditions, but also tolerates drier soils. Consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. Adapts well to heavy clay soils of Missouri and will tolerate poor drainage. Avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running.

Noteworthy Characteristics Betula nigra, commonly called river birch, is a vigorous, fast-growing, medium-sized, Missouri native deciduous tree which occurs on floodplains, swampy bottomlands and along streams throughout the State. In cultivation, it can be trained as either a single trunk or multi-trunked tree. As a single trunk tree, it develops a pyramidal habit when young, but matures to a more rounded shape typically growing 40-70' tall. Multi-trunked trees form a more irregular crown and are generally considered to be the superior growth habit for this species. Salmon-pink to reddish brown bark exfoliates to reveal lighter inner bark. Leathery, diamond-shaped, medium to dark green leaves (1.5-3.5" long) with doubly toothed margins turn yellow in fall. Monoecious flowers appear in drooping, brownish male catkins and smaller, upright, greenish female catkins. Genus name comes from the Latin name for birch. Specific epithet means black. Problems One of the most disease-free birches.

Most species of birch grow best in cool, northern climates, but do not adapt well to the hot summers of USDA Zones 5-9 and can be short-lived therein. Weakened birches become vulnerable to the bronze birch borer which typically infects and kills birches stressed by summer heat and humidity. River birches are Missouri natives that are naturally adapted to the climate and are extremely resistant to birch borer. Although river birches have some susceptibility to aphids, leaf miner and iron chlorosis in high pH soils, these problems are somewhat minor in comparison to the birch borer. 'Heritage' is a very popular river birch cultivar with superior ornamental features to the species (see Betula nigra 'Curly' HERITAGE). Garden Uses Specimen or small groupings for lawns, parks and commercial properties, and, in particular, for wet soils along ponds, streams or in low spots. Good choice for the St. Louis area and generally a good substitute for the paper birch in the hot and humid areas of USDA Zones 5-9.

Betula pendula (silver birch) | Plants & Fungi At Kew Discover plants and fungi Betula pendula (silver birch) The silver birch is a temperate tree, grown as an ornamental plant, also for its timber. It is used for a range of purposes, from broom-making and steeple-chase fencing to medicines. Trunk and branches of Betula pendula (Photo: Wolfgang Stuppy) Species information Common and not threatened in the UK. Habitat: Found as major component of woodlands on light soil, especially acid heaths. Key Uses: Genus: Betula About this species One of the most familiar trees of the British countryside, the graceful silver birch is a genuine native, growing here since the end of the Ice Age. Its papery-white bark – almost pink in young trees – distinguishes it from the downy birch (Betula pubescens) which has reddish bark that turns grey with age and is usually found in wetter habitats in the uplands. Birches produce an abundance of sap in spring and a cut stump will ‘bleed' for weeks.

In North America, a species of woodpecker called the sapsucker taps birch trees in spring by cutting small wells in the bark and drinking the sap, which oozes out. Genus: Discover more Geography and distribution The silver birch is native to many parts of Europe, including the UK, and to North Asia. Description Male catkins (Photo: Wolfgang Stuppy) A tree growing to about 30 metres high, with silvery-white bark becoming black and fissured with age.The young twigs often droop; leaves are small and simple with a toothed margin. The flowers are wind-pollinated, grouped into catkins; the males long, loose and hanging down, the females shorter, stiff and erect. Female catkins disintegrate at fruiting stage to release plentiful, tiny winged seeds which are dispersed by the wind. The catkins appear early in spring and release their pollen in clouds during April. The leaves emerge shortly after, a bright emerald green at first, turning golden in autumn. The leaves of silver birch are small and roughly diamond-shaped. They are toothed on both sides and borne on slender warty twigs that shiver in the slightest breeze.

Female catkins (Photo: Wolfgang Stuppy) Birch saplings also share this tendency to sway in the wind, and traditionally, foresters would remove young birches from plantations to prevent them from flaying more valuable trees. As a tree ages, its bark darkens, and becoming rougher, more fissured and prone to attack by the birch polypore fungus Piptoporus betulinus. Ideal as kindling, the bark, like the tree itself, is remarkably hardy and renews from beneath. Is it a bird's nest? Not necessarily. Silver birches often appear to have large bird's nests in them but these are in fact a tangle of twigs known as galls, which are growth deformities caused by fungus or mites. These so-called witch's brooms form naturally, but birch twigs are also cut and bundled to make the sort of brooms witches are famous for. Threats and conservation There are currently no threats to the tree in the UK. Due to its invasive nature, silver birch forms scrub which is often the reason why conservation work is carried out on some nature reserve sites.

Birch colonises open areas quickly and, when left unchecked, can reduce the conservation value of habitats such as heathland. Silver birch: a 'pioneer' species One of the reasons why the birch so successfully colonised the newly emerging lands following the retreat of Ice Age glaciers lies in its abundantly-produced seed. This is very light and efficiently dispersed by the wind. Even today, it remains what botanists call a ‘pioneer' species; one of the first trees to occupy suitable ground. This said, it is not a long-lived tree; most trees die or succumb to fungal attack by the age of 70. However, they do offer protection to slower-growing, longer-lived trees such as oaks, and where left to regenerate can play an important role in helping to nurture developing woodland. Birch trees have a symbiotic relationship with the fungus Amanita muscaria (Photo: Geoffrey Kibby) Despite suffering attacks from some fungi, birch trees have a symbiotic relationship with the fly agaric fungus (Amanita muscaria), which produces its bright red toadstools in autumn.

The fungus helps soil nutrients to be absorbed by the tree's roots, and it takes sugars from the tree in return. Uses Silver birch is cultivated as an ornamental tree and for its timber. It is also used for medicine. Wine made from the sap was once taken as a medicine in Britain, whilst the bark was used in Ireland to treat skin complaints. Today, the leaves and bark are mostly used for their diuretic properties. Birch tar oil prepared from the bark of Betula pendula is used to treat skin conditions. One of the major constituents of the bark, betulinic acid, has shown activity against cancerous cells and HIV. The twigs and galls of birches are widely used on horse race courses, to fill out steeple-chase fences. In Finland, the cultural and economic value of the species is recognised in its status as the national tree Millennium Seed Bank: Seed storage Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life worldwide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault.

Number of seed collections stored in the Millennium Seed Bank: Four Seed storage behaviour: Orthodox (the seeds of this plant survive being dried without significantly reducing their viability, and are therefore amenable to long-term frozen storage such as at the MSB) Germination testing: Successful References and credits Allen, D. A., Hatfield, G. (2004). Medicinal Plants in Folk Tradition: An Ethnobotany of Britain and Ireland. Timber Press, Cambridge. Bruneton, J. (1999). Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants 2nd edn. Lavoisier, Paris. Evers, M., Poujade, C., Soler, F., et al. (1996). Betulinic Acid Derivatives: A New Class of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Specific Inhibitors with a New Mode of Action. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 39: 1056-1068. Williamson, E. M. (2003). Potter’s Herbal Cyclopaedia. C. W. Daniel, Saffron Walden.

Kew Science Editor: Melanie Thomas Kew contributors: Sustainable Uses Group Copy editing: Kew Publishing Authored in partnership with ARKive. For thousands of videos, images and fact-files illustrating the world's species visit While every effort has been taken to ensure that the information contained in these pages is reliable and complete, the notes on hazards, edibility and suchlike included here are recorded information and do not constitute recommendations. No responsibility will be taken for readers’ own actions.

Question: Which type of tree form the Genus Betula?
Answer: BIRCH TREES